GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Prior to his arrival in Petaluma, Ross was a dance instructor in Napa, California teaching classes at the Napa Gymnasium between November 1862 and January 1863. Unlike the other nineteenth century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived in Petaluma for many years. Arriving in Petaluma in 1855 at age 23, he established a house painting business and later taught dancing lessons as a side business. In 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived, photographic studio partnership with E. D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma, (see Ross and Ormsby). Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. It is notable that in his will, Ross bequeathed $500 to his fellow Petaluma photographer and competitor, John Quincy Reed, (Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 31, 1893, p.1).
Petaluma Photographic Studio: George Ross moved his studio within Petaluma several times. His first studio was advertised beginning in July of 1863 as located on Main Street in the Old Post Office opposite the Phoenix Block. Beginning in June of 1864, his studio was advertised as located over Snow’s Cheap Cash Store in Maynard’s New Building on Main Street. During Ross’ brief partnership with *** Ormsby, their studio was advertised beginning in May of 1869 as located on Main Street two doors above Wickersham & Company Bank. Ross studio located above Chapman’s Furniture Store opposite the American Hotel opened in September, 1870. What appears to have been Ross’ last studio location was opened by 1880 on 36 Main Street Opposite the American Hotel, and Ross continued at that location until his retirement in****.
Active in Petaluma: July 1862 - sometime after 1892. George Ross arrived in Petaluma in 1855, but did not begin his professional career as a portraitist until July 19, 1862 when he opened his first photographic studio. He continued to serve the community of Petaluma as a portrait photographer until, “the illness which resulted in his death compelled him to retire.” According to his obituary, Ross became disabled in 1888, 5 years before his death, but he continued to produce portraits at least until 1892.
Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 163; Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 461-463; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; Jean Rosenbloom, “George Ross - Petaluma Photographer,” The Photographist, no. 38 (Fall 1977), p.14; Napa County Reporter, Nov. 29, 1862, p. 3, column 2; Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 31, 1893, p.1; Sonoma Democrat,Vol. XXXVI, No. 16, January 28,1893, p. 6, column 3. ; The Daily Courier, Petaluma, January 31, 1893, p.1.
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